Pokemon has been around for a LONG time. And there has been a lot of changes throughout the time. If you had to name some of the biggest changes that has happened to the game or anime, what would it be?

In Gen IV, the physical/special split was one of the biggest things that happened. Pokemon who weren't able to use their STABs effectively, like Sneasel and Kingler, now have STABs geared towards their higher offensive stats to use effectively. The elemental punches also became physical, which was a godsend to the normally physically-inclined Fighting Pokemon.

I think the first change people really flipped out about regarding the anime was when Misty left and May came in. I mean it wasn't really that major in the general scheme of things and I think it was a good change now, but that certainly wasn't my opinion when it happened haha. People made a huge deal about it.

There's are the biggest changes that I could think of about right now. (MY OPINION, so don't bash saying that it isn't the biggest changes)

Gen II: When Crystal made the pokemon sprite animated when they came out of their pokeball.
Gen III: Double battles, and the graphical changes made from Gen II to Gen III.
Gen IV: Wifi trades and battles, the special and physical attacks split.
Gen V: 3 on 3 battles and the pokemon and trainer sprites that moves constantly during battle was awesome too.

For me, the physical/special split of Generation 4, it made once-useless Pokemon now get STAB moves to complement their higher attacking stat such as Gengar now getting special Sludge Bomb/Shadow Ball and Gyarados now getting a physical Waterfall.

Wi-Fi made a big impact I think, although I kind of miss the charm of trading and battling through a cable.

Breeding was another huge addition, and along with that, genders of Pokémon. You can't really imagine the games without them now.

Abilities were also something else that affected the game massively, something else to play around with and use as well as an effective moveset etc.

Natures, again, another mechanic that can help you if you find a Pokémon with the nature you're looking for.

As has already been mentioned, the physical/special split up of moves in Generation IV, it helped a lot of Pokémon gain more useful moves and make more use of moves they already had etc.

Some more minor things: FOLLOW ME FEATURE IN HGSS (seriously, that needs to come back! I know it started in Yellow kind of, but still); running shoes; the addition of different types of Pokéballs (like Dusk Balls, Net Balls etc) made it more interesting that just throwing around Ultra Balls after you've gotten so far in the game).

I thought the Special Abilites made the game different. Giving certain Pokemon advantages here and there. It gave Koffing one weakness; even tho...it still can go down pretty easy, regardless.

For the 4th gen games Wifi; even tho, I don't actually compete or trade online, was a good addition to the gameplay. The Phy/Spe split...made the game flow WAY different than any other games before it.

For me, the biggest changes were the graphic change between 2nd & 3rd generation, and the introduction to genders and breeding in the 2nd generation. But I can't have an opinion on the Wi/Fi and split attacks, since I haven't played 4th or 5th generation.

It's not a big change but I preferred how some of the monsters' designs looked in their first generation sprites.
Now, a big one? Effort values; I hate how they're used in competitive to minmax monsters when the original intention appears to have been simply to make them all unique individuals, to give monsters more personality and depth, but they've just become a means of specialisation to absurd degrees. I like watching competitive anyway, but would certainly not enjoy partaking. I've EV-trained something myself and in the end it just feels hollow to use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LightningAlex

Guys, what are STAB moves?

Same type attack bonus. If a monster's type is the same as the type of a damaging move it is using, the move's power is increased by 50%. The bonus itself has been around since the first generation.

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